Chapter 15

           Mealswiththepatientswereachoreheapproachedwithapathy.Thegathering,whichofcoursedidnotincluderesidentsattheEglantineortheBeeches,wasconventionalenoughatfirstsight,butoveritbroodedalwaysaheavymelancholy.Suchdoctorsaswerepresentkeptupaconversationbutmostofthepatients,asifexhaustedbytheirmorning’sendeavor,ordepressedbythecompany,spokelittle,andatelookingintotheirplates.

           Luncheonover,Dickreturnedtohisvilla.Nicolewasinthesalonwearingastrangeexpression.

           "Readthat,"shesaid.

           Heopenedtheletter.Itwasfromawomanrecentlydischarged,thoughwithskepticismonthepartofthefaculty.Itaccusedhiminnouncertaintermsofhavingseducedherdaughter,whohadbeenathermother’ssideduringthecrucialstageoftheillness.ItpresumedthatMrs.Diverwouldbegladtohavethisinformationandlearnwhatherhusbandwas"reallylike."

           Dickreadtheletteragain.CouchedinclearandconciseEnglishheyetrecognizeditastheletterofamaniac.Uponasingleoccasionhehadletthegirl,aflirtatiouslittlebrunette,rideintoZurichwithhim,uponherrequest,andintheeveninghadbroughtherbacktotheclinic.Inanidle,almostindulgentway,hekissedher.Later,shetriedtocarrytheaffairfurther,buthewasnotinterestedandsubsequently,probablyconsequently,thegirlhadcometodislikehim,andtakenhermotheraway.

           "Thisletterisderanged,"hesaid."Ihadnorelationsofanykindwiththatgirl.Ididn’tevenlikeher."